23 Month Old Sleep Schedule: The Complete Guide

Author Image By Paula McLaren - Norland Nurse NNEB RSH •  Updated: 12/07/22 •  Sleep / Sleep Schedules

Healthy sleep patterns start with a schedule. Here’s how to get your little one onto a regular 23 month old sleep schedule with top tricks to make maintaining it as easy as possible.

How Much Should A 23 Month Old Sleep?

Sample 23 Month Old Sleep Schedule

By 23 months old, your little one will easily be sleeping through the night and will have transitioned down to 1 nap in the afternoon (lasting about an hour and a half) on most days.

Here is a sample 23 month old sleep schedule to give you a guideline for how your little one’s day can flow:

23 Month Old Sleep Schedule Sample

REMEMBER: This 23 month old sleep schedule is only a guideline and will differ from child to child. The most important thing to focus on is how much sleep your little one requires in 24 hours and work from there.

Nap Schedule For 23 Month Old

Your 23 month old will typically have 1 nap a day but may need an extra one on very busy days.

To help you plan a nap schedule for your 23 month old, I would suggest having some quiet time in the morning to relax and maintain a consistent afternoon nap to avoid your little one from becoming overtired at the end of the day.

Nap Schedule For A 23 Month Old Baby

How Long Should A 23 Month Old Nap?

Nap times at this age can vary from child to child and even from day to day depending on what activities your child has been engaging in. 

However, as part of a 23 month old sleep schedule, toddlers will take a 1 ½ to 2 hour nap after lunch.

REMEMBER: Nap timings depend on your child, how much they slept the night before and how busy their day has been.

How Many Naps Should A 23 Month Old Take?

Most days your 23 month old will only need one daytime nap after lunch. 

This afternoon nap should not last longer than 2 hours to avoid interfering with the bedtime routine.

TOP TIP: If your little one should occasionally fall asleep on the way home in the car after a busy afternoon… don’t panic. A short cat nap of no more than 30 minutes is fine and will prevent overtiredness. However, you may need to adjust bedtime by half an hour.

23 Month Old Bedtime Routine

As always, a regular and healthy bedtime routine is essential to your child’s good night’s sleep as they are proven to improve sleep and reduce nighttime wakings. And for a 23 month old sleep schedule, your little one’s bedtime routine will consist of:

The entire bedtime routine should start between 6pm and 6.30pm and ideally, take no longer than 30 minutes.

REMEMBER: The bedtime routine should follow the same steps and be repeated at the same time every evening to ensure your 23 month old can recognise the signs that bedtime is coming to help them settle and fall asleep more easily. You can use a bedtime routine chart to help your little one know what’s coming up.

What Time Should A 23 Month Old Go To Bed?

For a 23 month old sleep schedule, your little one should be in bed with the lights out between 7pm and 7.30pm.

If you want to adjust your schedule to make bedtime a little later you must change your daily nap times accordingly.

But no matter what… your child should not be in bed any later than 8pm to ensure your toddler gets enough sleep to support their brain’s growth and development as well as their physical development.

Looking to get your little one to sleep quickly and effortlessly? Check out my Bedtime and Nap Cheat Sheet and master the art of making daytime naps and bedtimes as seamless as possible.

Is There A Sleep Regression At 23 Months?

Yes and no…

Sleep regressions are possible at any age and can be triggered by all sorts of developmental and environmental occurrences.

Whilst sleep regressions are more common at 4 months, 6 months, between 8 and 10 months, 12 months old and around 18 months old… 

Your 23 month old can still experience a sleep regression.

So if your 23 month old sleep schedule is disrupted with your little one fighting sleep, increased nighttime wakings and restlessness then they are very likely experiencing a short-term sleep regression. 

Read this post to help you navigate this situation: Sleep Regression: What, Why, Signs & Sanity-Saving Solutions.

23 Month Old Sleep Tips

Establishing and maintaining a 23 month old sleep schedule will make your day much easier to manage because after all… Everything starts and ends with sleep!

Here are some of my top sleep tips to make creating and maintaining a 23 month old sleep schedule as simple as possible.

TOP TIP: Time spent quietly in their crib is an ideal way to navigate nap transitions. They may sleep, or they may not but having a quiet period without sleep is better than being busy.

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Toddler Night Light Lamp By LICKLIP

Finding the right night light for your child can be quite a task. You want something safe, comforting, and practical. The Cozy Starry Night Light ticks these boxes, with eye-friendly warm lighting and an easy-to-use dimmer.

Its gentle glow makes it the best night light for feeding baby, diaper changes, or comforting your little one back to sleep.

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It really is a fantastic nightlight (at a very reasonable price!)

Pros:
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  • Battery life varies based on the brightness settings.
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iPlay, iLearn Wooden Food Toy Set, Magnetic Fruit Vegetables

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Common 23 Month Old Sleep Problems

The most common sleep problems that your toddler may encounter when establishing and maintaining a 23 month old sleep schedule are:

TOP TIP: To help with early morning waking try a toddler alarm clock like this one to help your toddler know when it is time to get up and when they should stay in bed.

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MELLA Ready to Rise Children's Sleep Trainer

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Studies show that children do not fully understand the concept of time until around 8 years old, so MELLA uses colours and facial expressions to teach your kid when it's time for bed and when it's okay to wake up. With MELLA, your kid can learn to stay in bed longer, giving you more sleep!

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23 Month Old Baby Sleep FAQs

Looking for more help with creating the perfect 23 month old sleep schedule? Find answers to the most common questions here.

What Time Should My Toddler Wake In The Morning?

Depending on the light in their bedroom… your 23 month old toddler can be expected to wake up between 6am and 7.30am. 

Anything earlier I would consider to be too early and you may need to consider using blackout blinds or provide them with something to play with on waking to give you the opportunity to stay in bed for an extra few precious minutes.

Is 6pm Too Early For Toddler Bedtime?

Your toddler’s bedtime really depends on how your household routine works. 

If you are early risers and are happy with your toddler waking early… then a 6pm bedtime is fine. 

However, if you find that your toddler is waking at an unsociable hour… you may wish to push bedtime back a bit.

REMEMBER: Your toddler’s bedtime will always be dictated by the time they wake in the morning and how much daytime sleep they are getting.

When Should Toddlers Stop Napping?

Most young children will stop napping between the ages of 3 and 4 years of age but some may stop sooner.

Most children will need a daytime nap until they are at least 2 years old, after which daily quiet time is a good substitute to avoid overtiredness.

Read my post When Do Toddlers Stop Napping to learn more.

Why Is My 23 Month Old So Cranky?

If your 23 month old is constantly cranky I would take a close look at their sleep schedule. 

Most cranky toddlers are either tired, hungry or frustrated. 

While cranky behaviour is quite normal for this age group… getting the sleep schedule right is one way of eliminating the cause as well as offering healthy snacks to avoid hunger being the issue and allowing them simple choices to reduce frustrations.

Why Is My 23 Month Old Sleeping A Lot?

The most likely reason your 23 month old is sleeping a lot is due to a growth spurt. 

A change in routine such as starting daycare, being sick or moving house can also mean your little one will need more sleep.

In some cases, your child may just be one of those people that needs a lot of sleep! 

REMEMBER: We all have different sleep requirements. But if you are at all concerned about your child sleeping too much have a chat with your medical practitioner.

Sleep Schedules Further Reading

Here are some more sleep schedules to help you get the most out of helping your little one sleep as best they can.

After all…

Sleep breeds sleep!

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Author Image Bio
Paula McLaren is the founder of Teething to Tantrums and a highly qualified childcare expert with over 40 years of experience as a Norland Nanny. She holds a BA (Hons) in Early Years Development & Learning (0-6 Years) and the prestigious Norland Diploma. Paula has worked as a night nanny, run a successful daycare center in London, and helped raise countless children using her tried and tested developmental and guidance methods.

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